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The horse meat scandal is the result of a criminal fraud conspiracy, the government has said.
Owen Paterson, the Environment Secretary, said the abuse of the food industry could have been on an "extensive" scale throughout Europe.
His comments come as pressure mounts for a ban on meat imports until the crisis has been averted.
Owen Paterson will address MPs on the horse meat scandal
Paterson, who will address MPs on the scandal on Monday, has admitted the horse meat could turn out to be harmful to humans.
But he insisted: "At the moment, all the evidence is that these products are entirely safe."
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about poor levels of food hygiene when meat is transported.
And legal actions are expected as companies try to cope with the fallout from the scandal.
Findus lasagne contained up to 100% horse
Companies form Romania, Cyprus and the Netherlands are thought to be involved, with warnings issued to 16 countries.
One theory for the apparent increase in the presence of horse meat in the food chain is new restrictions on using horses on roads in Romania, which have led to a surge in numbers of animals being put down.
Paterson said: "Reports today we have had from France looks as though it might have been pinned down to two abattoirs in Romania but I will be talking to authorities later in the day to establish that.
"I very much hope that these legal processes do flush out the criminals because it is completely unacceptable that British consumers should be sold a product marked as one thing which actually contains something else."
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he added: "This is a case of fraud and a conspiracy against the public, this is a criminal action, substituting one material for another.
"If a British consumer goes into a retail store and buys a beef product, they should expect to get beef in that product, not horse.
"So this is a straight case of fraud and I think you will see legal actions beginning in certain continental countries today.
"I will be taking it up with certain ministers and also with the Commission in Europe, because this is overall a European Commission competence.
"It is absolutely unacceptable that consumers are being passed off with one product when they buy another."
The chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee, Conservative MP Anne McIntosh said: "I believe there should be a moratorium on the movement of all meat until such time as we can trace the source of contamination."
But shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh said banning meat imports was a "knee-jerk reaction".
The Food Standards Agency has said there is no evidence to suggest the horse meat detected in beef products poses a danger to humans, but confirmed that tests have been ordered for the veterinary drug phenylbutazone as animals treated with "bute" are not allowed to enter the food chain.
Frozen foods firm Findus, which has taken its beef lasagnes made by French food supplier Comigel off shelves after some were found to have up to 100% horse meat in them, said it was considering taking legal action against its suppliers as an internal investigation "strongly suggests" that the contamination "was not accidental".


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Carson Pirie Scott & Co. said Wednesday it will close its College Square store in Cedar Falls, Ia., on Dec. 28.
The store, which was part of the Donaldson`s chain that Chicago-based Carsons acquired last year, employs about 35 people. They will be offered other jobs or severance benefits, Carsons said.
Carsons said it decided not to renew its lease, which expires Feb. 28.
The company said it will continue to serve customers in northern Iowa through its store at nearby Waterloo.
``The decision to close the College Square store was a difficult one,``
said Dennis S. Bookshester, Carsons vice chairman and chairman and chief executive officer of the department stores division.
The store was formerly a unit of James Black Co., which merged with Donaldson`s Department Stores in 1979.
Carsons acquired Donaldson`s, a Minneapolis-based retailing chain, last November.
Carson Pirie Scott Department Stores operates 37 stores in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Iowa.

domain: news


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By KIRK JOHNSON
Published: July 1, 2012
SEATTLE — The cultivated rusticity of a farmers’ market, where dirt-dusted beets are status symbols and earnest entrepreneurs preside over chunks of cheese, is a part of weekend life in cities across the nation as the high days of the summer harvest approach.
But beyond the familiar mantras about nutrition or reduced fossil fuel use, the movement toward local food is creating a vibrant new economic laboratory for American agriculture. The result, with its growing army of small-scale local farmers, is as much about dollars as dinner: a reworking of old models about how food gets sold and farms get financed, and who gets dirt under their fingernails doing the work… http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/02/us/small-scale-farmers-creating-a-new-profit-model.html


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International lighting industry giant OSRAM has just announced a research breakthrough that will make the cost of high-efficiency LED light bulbs sink like a stone. Considering the volume of hay that certain politicians have made this year fighting against LEDs and other new technologies, that should cause more than a few faces to start glowing beet red. After all, who could be against a simple, easy-to-install household device that saves money every time you flip a switch? While OSRAM’s new LEDs still might not become quite cheap as conventional incandescent bulbs, this new generation of cheaper LEDs will make it that much easier for the mass market to swing away from energy-wasting bulbs, since the payback period will be far shorter than it is today.
Silicon is the Secret to Cheaper LEDs
One reason that high-performance LEDs are relatively expensive now is because they are typically made by layering various compounds onto a sapphire substrate. OSRAM substituted a far cheaper (to say nothing of ubiquitous) substrate, silicon. That sounds simple enough but the challenge is to maintain a high level of performance and durability while using cheaper materials. So far, things are looking good: the research is still in the pilot stage, but the company is so confident that it is already predicting success. The next step is a series of tests in real-world conditions, with a market-ready product available in about two years.
More Low-Cost LEDs on the Horizon
If it seems that OSRAM is racing to get ahead of the competition for the mass market lighting tech of the future, that’s because there is competition. The company Lighting Science Group, for example, is also working on new low-cost LED technology that could retail for far less than is typical now, and Philips has already launched a new high-efficiency lightbulb that looks and acts just like the old ones. The pursuit of the consumer market in the U.S. and other developed countries is prize enough, but cheaper high-efficiency bulbs could also find a huge market in the developing world, where households are beginning to adopt mini-solar kits and other low cost alternative energy technologies that enable them to use more electrical appliances.
Light Bulb War Could Heat Up This Fall
The scramble to bring better lighting technology to market in the U.S. is mainly due to four-year-old Federal legislation that phased in new energy efficiency standards for light bulbs starting this January 1. That timetable is still law, but House Republicans pretty much guaranteed that the debate over new lighting technology will revive in time to become a hot election issue this fall, because they pushed through legislation that delays funding for enforcement until September 30.
Or, Light Bulb War Could Fizzle
Given the rapid pace at which the lighting industry is making better, cheaper stuff available to consumers, that legislative maneuver could easily fall into the “be careful what you wish for” category. For its part, the lighting industry has already asserted that it will stick with the mandatory timetable whether or not enforcement funding is allocated, and major lighting retailers like IKEA are already transitioning. That leaves anti-tech politicians and pundits trying to argue – right in the hotspot of an election season marked by household economic issues – that consumers are better served by a return to old policies that stick them with 130-year-old lighting technology which costs them more money every time they turn on the lights.
Image: OSRAM LED in red, orange and yellow, courtesy of OSRAM.
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When the phonograph was invented, people still bought pianos.When movies, then radio, then television arrived on the scene, people still bought books, magazines and newspapers.
But the Internet is having an impact on everyday life far beyond that of any other communication innovation. You couldn’t carry a record player or a TV in your pocket. You could carry a radio — 35 years after they first came on the market — but you couldn’t create your own programming; you were at the mercy of whatever station you were listening to.
It took smartphones to really unleash the power of the Web. Now the majority of us carry a phone — which is, in reality, an extremely powerful minicomputer. There’s very little we can’t do with it: watch a movie, check stock listings, browse museum galleries, make a dental appointment, transmit photos — virtually the whole range of human activity can be transacted on a smartphone.
The transition to digital was reinforced for me yet again when I looked at the 2011 media forecasts in Brandweek magazine. Online U.S. ad spending is forecast to grow about 11 percent in 2011, to about $28.5 billion.
That should put it well ahead of newspaper advertising, which will end 2010 at around $26.5 billion and is expected to drop by single digits during 2011.
To put that in perspective, newspaper ad sales as recently as 2005 totaled $49.5 billion. That same year, online ad spending was around $12 billion. Since 2005, newspaper advertising has shrunk by about half, while online ad spending has more than doubled — two trains speeding in opposite directions.
National TV ad revenue is right in the same range as newspapers and online — forecast at around $27 billion for 2011, with growth in the mid-single digits.
So here’s how the biggest players look: Online, newspapers and TV are all roughly equal right now. But newspapers are steadily losing revenue, while national TV shows modest growth and online is still gaining at a double-digit clip.
It’s been darkly funny in recent weeks to read the comments of newspaper company executives translating their third-quarter financial results. Basically, they’ve all expressed optimism because they’re not losing revenue at nearly the rate they were last year. Instead of hemorrhaging 25 percent a quarter, they’re only down 5 or 6 percent.
I root for newspapers, but there are definitely a lot of pigs with lipstick running loose in those quarters.
A few other nuggets from the Brandweek forecast:
• Tablet media sales (e.g., iPads) will jump worldwide from about 20 million this year to more than 150 million in 2013. (Here’s an interesting item on how the iPad might zero in on newspapers’ most loyal customers.)
• Magazine advertising revenue by 2014 will be about two-thirds what it was in 2007.
• 40 million U.S. homes already have a gaming console with a broadband Internet connection.
• Ad-supported cable TV viewership passed network viewership in 2002, and now grabs 51 percent of the U.S. viewing audience, vs. 28 percent for the four major networks.


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LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Amazon is sorting through 238 proposals to house the company’s second headquarters, and a Las Vegas man is trying to woo the online giant with a song. A man from Las Vegas, New Mexico, that is.
KOB-TV in Albuquerque, New Mexico reports that Las Vegas resident Jim Terr has penned a tune to attract Amazon to the small northern New Mexico city.
The song highlights the food, natural beauty, architecture and pop culture in Las Vegas.
But the city of Las Vegas didn’t submit a bid to Amazon.
The online retailer kicked off its hunt for a second home base in September, promising 50,000 new jobs and construction spending of more than $5 billion.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was born in New Mexico’s largest city, Albuquerque. That city has submitted a bid.


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Zipper Interactive has confirmed that the open beta for MAG will kick off on September 17: a full week before Tokyo Game Show.
Only recently has the beta begun in earnest with staff from SCEE trying the game earlier this month. It was only this week that SCEA sent out invites to people in the US, while SCEE Beta Trial Testers had only their recieved codes on Tuesday.
Andy Beaudoin of Zipper confirmed the news, adding : “On September 17, we will start an official public beta version”
From Eurogamer Germany.
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ARTS, BRIEFLY; Battlefield And Church Among Threatened Sites
By ROBIN POGREBIN; Compiled by DAVE ITZKOFF
Published: May 19, 2010
The battlefield where Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant faced off for the first time in the Civil War is among the 11 most endangered historic places in the country, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is to announce on Wednesday. Wal-Mart plans to build a 240,000-square-foot store within the historic boundaries of the Wilderness Battlefield and adjacent to the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, which protects only a portion of the battlefield. The 51-acre Wal-Mart development would include a supercenter store and other chain retail stores. ''We know from experience this will draw other sprawl,'' the trust's president, Richard Moe, said in a telephone interview. ''It's total saturation at the expense of history.'' Mr. Moe is to announce the 2010 list at the Metropolitan A.M.E. Church in Washington, above -- the national cathedral of African Methodism and a landmark. The Wilderness site is famous for two days of bitter fighting in May 1864 that left nearly 30,000 casualties -- dead, wounded or missing. Other sites on this year's roster are Hinchliffe Stadium, in Paterson, N.J., one of the last remaining Negro League ballparks; the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut, known for its decorative bridges and natural landscaping; and the Metropolitan A.M.E. Church in Washington, which held the funerals of Frederick Douglass in 1895 and Rosa Parks a century later.
PHOTO (PHOTOGRAPH BY NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION)


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LG Electronics (LG) today announced that worldwide sales of its Optimus One smartphone have hit one million units just 40 days after the phone’s initial launch. The Optimus One is the fastest selling mobile handset in the company’s history.
Powered by the Android 2.2 Froyo operating system and optimised for Google Mobile Services, the LG Optimus One is targeted at first-time smartphone buyers looking for high performance and useful applications, but at a competitive price compared with feature phones.
‘The versatile, powerful LG Optimus One was designed to provide an easy transition into the world of smartphones and as these numbers demonstrate, there is obviously a strong demand for this type of device,’ said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. ‘Optimus One seems to be what many customers were waiting for, proving that smartphones aren’t just for early adopters anymore.’
One of the first smartphones to launch with Google’s latest operating system, the Optimus One allows for up to three times faster internet browsing, web page loading, and multitasking. The Optimus One also incorporates a unique LG designed user interface (UI) along with a camera that features face tracking and smile shot, a 3.2-inch wide HVGA screen and a long-lasting 1500mAh capacity battery.
LG is rolling the device out around the world. The Optimus One is expected to be available via 120 carriers and partners. LG expects Optimus One to be its first smartphone to shift 10 million units.


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Analyst Firm Finds Adding Digital Advertising to a Holistic Marketing Strategy Drives Significant Results
LIVONIA, Mich., Sept. 27, 2018: Valassis Digital, a leader in activating consumers through best-in-class digital marketing solutions, announced today results from a commissioned Forrester Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) study that analyzed the return on investment (ROI) for four Valassis Digital customers using Valassis Digital’s advertising services to complement Valassis print or other print services in a holistic marketing campaign.
To conduct the study, Forrester interviewed four customers with years of experience using Valassis Digital advertising across a variety of marketing campaigns. The results found a 30 percent lift from digital marketing efforts with Valassis Digital, leading to more than 9,000 new in-store sales from each campaign, adding up to a risk-adjusted total of nearly $3.2 million per year over the three-year analysis period. Overall, this translates to a 224 percent ROI and a three-year, risk-adjusted net present value (NPV) of $5.4 million. According to the study, these organizations not only grew their digital marketing strategies through the years, but they enabled additional benefits by: 1) leveraging the services of Valassis Digital, such as hyperlocal targeting and 2) focusing on omnichannel marketing strategies across a variety of delivery types and channels such as coupons and advertisements, web and mobile.
“We believe the right balance of print and digital empowers marketing strategies to generate greater ROI results,” said Michelle Engle, Senior Vice President of Product and Marketing, Valassis Digital. “This study shows the value of adding digital to a holistic marketing strategy in not only increasing the ability to target consumers at a granular level, but also driving in-store visits for retailers. With Valassis Digital, customers gain better shopper insights and increase visibility of in-store and omnichannel measurement, ultimately increasing foot traffic and sales.”
For a composite organization running an average of 25 campaigns per year, the survey and interview results found that adding Valassis Digital to marketing strategies was highly valuable to driving in-store visits. Results include a 5.5 percent redemption (31,000 sales), as well as a 30 percent lift (9,300 sales) attributed to Valassis Digital’s advertising services.
“Valassis is already handling our print circular ads. They know exactly what households receive that ad and provide insights into who those customers are, and pair that with digital to make sure that we’re also targeting the right households,” said a marketing executive at a West Coast retailer.
A senior marketing specialist at a Northeast retailer said, “We are able to identify consumers closer in the purchase funnel, with higher purchase intent, than just with print. So, now we can not only see how many people were served ads and how many times that was clicked on, we can tell how many people actually went into a physical store location. And with Valassis Digital’s help we are able to measure implied sales.”
To view The Total Economic Impact™ of Valassis Digital, please visit www.valassisdigital.com/TEI.
About Valassis Digital
Valassis Digital is a leading digital marketing intelligence company, providing a best-in-class data management platform and online and offline targeting capabilities that fuel superior display advertising and media offerings. Through proprietary technology and the Valassis Digital Consumer Graph™, we power the lifecycle of marketing campaigns– from planning to activation and measurement. In fact, 19 of 20 leading brands work with Valassis Digital to drive better campaign performance.
Valassis helps thousands of local and national brands tap the potential of industry-leading data through intelligent media delivery – understanding, engaging and inspiring millions of consumers to action with smarter cross-channel campaigns. We’ve been a part of consumers’ lives for decades, introducing new ways to deliver offers and messages that activate them — whether via mail, digital, in-store or the newspaper. NCH Marketing Services, Inc. and Clipper Magazine are Valassis subsidiaries, and RedPlum® is its consumer brand. Its signature Have You Seen Me?® program delivers hope to missing children and their families. Valassis and RetailMeNot are wholly owned subsidiaries of Harland Clarke Holdings.


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P&O Ferries worker documents moment he is told to leave his job
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P&O Ferries sacked 800 staff on Thursday triggering mass chaos at UK ports. The sudden move shocked employees and caused widespread condemnation.
P&O Ferries initially told customers that services may not run for the “next few days” following the sacking.
Chaos looks set to continue this week as the company announced more cancellations on key routes.
It tweeted: “P&O Ferries services are unable to run for the next few days. We are advising travellers of alternative arrangements.”
It said it would update the Twitter account ‘POferriesupdate’ with information every three hours.
P&O Ferries said routes between Dover and Calais, Hull and Rotterdam and Larne and Cairnryan were cancelled on March 21.
For Dover to Calais customers, the company tweeted: “Please arrive as booked, we will get you away on an alternative carrier as soon as possible.
“Once at the port please head to the DFDS check-in booths. We apologise for the inconvenience this may have on your journey plans.”
Hull to Rotterdam customers were advised not to travel if their journey was not essential.
The company tweeted: “We apologise for the inconvenience and for the late notice. Those with essential travel needs will be guided by our port teams.”
Larne to Cairnryan customers were told: “Services remain suspended. It is no longer possible for us to arrange travel via an alternative operator on this route.
“For essential travel, customers are advised to seek alternatives themselves.”
It added that customers travelling on the route between Liverpool and Dublin would be contacted by port teams if they were affected.
One customer told The Guardian that they thought the company’s actions were “totally obscene”.
Peter Theakston said: “It makes you ashamed to be British that the Government lets the company do this.”
Travel expert, Simon Calder tweeted the company has “demonstrated how to render a reasonably well-regarded brand toxic.”
The company said it would refund fares if it couldn’t arrange a suitable alternative ferry crossing.
The UK Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, told the BBC that the sackings were “appalling” in the way they treated workers.
P&O Ferries said in a statement: “We took this difficult decision as a last resort and only after full consideration of all other options but, ultimately, we concluded that the business wouldn’t survive without fundamentally changed crewing arrangements, which in turn would inevitably result in redundancies.”
There have been widespread protests following the sacking and the RMT union called it one of the “most shameful acts in the history of British industrial relations.”
P&O Ferries is one of the UK’s leading ferry companies and carried more than 10 million passengers a year before the pandemic.
Source: Read Full Article


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ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s BPPL Holdings, a firm that recycles plastic bottles into export s, said it earned profits of 127millionrupees in the September 2021 quarter, down 5.5 percent from a year, despite rising freight and other costs.
Sales had increased 29 percent to 1.15 billion rupees in the period, according to interim accounts filed with the stock exchange.
However, cost of sales had increased 40 percent to 813 million rupees from 581 million rupees, a year earlier.
Meanwhile distribution costs too have risen in the period 60 percent to 86.4 million rupees from 53.7 million rupees..
Quarterly earnings per share were 42 cents. EPS for the six months to September 2021 were 74 cents with net profit at 225 million rupees on sales of 2.1 billion rupees
BPPL Managing Director and Chief Executive Anush Amarasinghe said due to COVID-19 related lockdowns they had issues obtaining raw materials such as timber and PET bottles therefore they had to import in large volumes at higher prices.
BPPL said timber and recycled PET bottles contributed 35 to 40 percent of the groups raw material costs.
“Therefore, imports to fulfill robust order volumes significantly impacted profit margins,” Amarasinghe said.
On top of this, BPPL had been affected by the container crisis.
“High freight costs continued to curtail profit growth as a drop in container availability and a reduction in shipping lines serving Sri Lanka impacted costs. This also caused delays to both imports (of raw materials) and exports (of customer orders),” Amarasinghe said.
This had resulted in a lot of raw materials and inventories to be in transitfor a longer time.
“In addition, export shipments on several occasions required 2-3x the regular delivery times, especially to our North American customers,” BPPL said.
Increases in commodity prices such as for petroleum based polypropylene, steel wire, natural fibers such as Palmyra had contributed to the reduction in profit margins.
To mitigate these issues and challenges, BBPL had increased the prices of its products.
“Local sourcing of both timber and PET bottles has recommenced following the lifting of travel restrictions which should improve profit margins in subsequent quarters. These vital raw materials are cheaper in Sri Lanka.”
The company said its second yarn factory too will operate from April 2022. (Colombo/Nov2/2021)


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Farewell to CyRise: Reflecting on the venture accelerator's impact on Australian cyber security
Venture accelerator, supporter, and champion of cyber security startups in the Asia Pacific, CyRise officially closed their doors on 19 May 2023.
Their closure means Australia is now left without a sovereign cyber security startup accelerator.
CyRise made a significant contribution to the future of numerous cyber startups and the Australian cyber security community. While it's often said all good things must come to an end, their closure is incredibly disappointing.
Having gone through the accelerator program myself, I know first-hand what CyRise means to the community and the impact they have on cyber startups in Australia. CyRise opened in 2017 headed by CEO Scott Handsaker and backed by NTT and Deakin University. They have achieved remarkable milestones, made incredible contributions and secured investments for 39 promising startups—including Devicie.
"I leave with a deep appreciation for the work Australia’s cyber security founders are doing. It would be hard to find a more mission-driven, passionate and ambitious community and it has been a privilege to play a small part in their growth," shared CyRise founder and CEO Scott Handsaker.
As we bid farewell to CyRise, I want to reflect on the impact they had on Devicie and the rest of the community. I know it's an end of an era for CyRise, but I am certain their legacy will live on through the extraordinary growth and accomplishments of the startups they accelerated.
CyRise achievements and milestones: The legacy they leave behind
CyRise was established to support and encourage entrepreneurial ambition in the Australian cyber security ecosystem.
"We saw a discrepancy between the low number of companies created and the high volume of talented founders in Australia, and we wanted to help fix that," said CyRise CEO Scott Handsaker.
While the accelerator program has come to an end, CyRise leaves behind a legacy underpinned by a vision of creating a cyber security ecosystem in Australia.
As Australia’s only venture accelerator focused on cyber security startups, there is no denying CyRise accelerated security startup investment momentum. Let's not forget when the company launched in 2017, the environment was not what it is today. Now investing in Australian cyber startups is seen as a sound investment, but back in 2017, there was plenty of hesitation.
''Over the last six years we have helped to show that not only is cyber a growing and relevant sector, but that Australian cyber security startups can make for outstanding investments."
CyRise secured investment for 39 promising startups. These ventures, nurtured under CyRise's guidance, have thrived with 55% of them securing additional funding amounting to over $40 million. With a return multiple of 3.55x and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 50%, the success of CyRise's alumni illustrates the quality of Australian cyber security startups.
It's clear the program paved the way for national and international success for many Australian cyber security startups. The impact of CyRise extends beyond monetary gains and scaling businesses. The companies who emerged from the program created over 150 high-value jobs in Australia, amplifying the growth of the local cyber security industry.
"Looking at all the CyRise founders, all 39 portfolio companies, all building amazing products, I am always humbled by your courage and conviction. This is still only the beginning of exciting new horizons. Global success awaits you."
The Devicie and CyRise journey: far more than just securing investment
Reflecting on Devicie's journey with CyRise, I think about how fortunate we were to be part of such an extensive and considered program.
I first heard about CyRise through my mentor Bradley Busch, whom I sought advice from before launching Devicie. Knowing the intricacies and difficulties of starting and running a cyber company, I wanted guidance from someone with extensive experience in scaling cyber security startups and taking a product to global markets. We were fortunate to find mentorship in Brad who at the time was CISO and CTO of Macquarie Capital.
Brad played a crucial role in helping Devicie navigate early business decisions and identifying areas where we needed improvement. One key area was effectively marketing and selling Devicie at scale, which is why he recommended applying for the CyRise program.
That advice and decision was a game-changer for us.
There is nothing like CyRise in Australia and I don't know where we would be without them—something I imagine is true for many other startups who went through the program.
From the beginning, the program set a fast pace that reflected the realities of startup life. This intense pace became something we learned to appreciate and maintain. It provided us with a crash course in various disciplines, including financial management, projecting expenses, and effectively utilising investments. But, it was about so much more than just securing investment.
The program covered crucial aspects of marketing, with industry professionals and sales leaders sharing their expertise. These individuals were and still are the absolute leaders of their industries. Driven by a desire to give back and support emerging companies, they generously offered their guidance and support, which was instrumental in securing our first customers and partners.
"For the startups in the accelerator program, I hope we showed them that they were capable of being great. That they had everything they needed to build a global company if they aimed high enough."
Along with giving our business a tangible boost, the program fostered a sense of community among all participants. What remains true is the strength of that community is unwavering.
From mentee to mentor
Since going through the CyRise accelerator, I have come full circle and become a mentor to other startups in the program. It has been a fulfilling and exciting experience to work with companies who are at the same stage we were just a few years ago. They face the same challenges and need support and advice.
The program successfully filled a gap in the industry and Devicie owes much of its success to CyRise and the community it cultivated. The connections made and the support received have been pivotal in our growth. That’s why we're committed to maintaining these connections and contributing to the community.
Take a stroll down memory lane and see our original Demo Day pitch.
The final Demo Day: Cohort Seven
Emotions were high at the final Demo Day in Sydney on 9 May and not just for Cohort Seven who were undoubtedly nervous as they pitched to investors.
The final five startups to go through the program and be put through their paces on Demo Day were Ensignia, InfoSecAssure, Nullify, Onqlave and 6pillars. They walk away with incredible support, potential investment and a wealth of knowledge and a place in the cyber security ecosystem CyRise created.
Kirstin pointed out on the night that while this is the end of the program, it is not the end of the community. CyRise created a strong foundation for the future of cyber startups, and she encouraged the audience to continue to be risk-takers, continue to be part of the ecosystem and continue to support cyber security startups in Australia.
Strongs words she reiterated in a recent post: "Together, we have created something very special— an ecosystem which will flourish in the future, because there are so many of you today who will nurture it and help it to grow. With an innovation mindset, you can’t ‘unsee’ potential."
With the mentorship, support and knowledge Devicie gained from the program, I know many of the companies in the CyRise portfolio will continue to thrive and achieve global success.
What's next for cyber startups seeking a sovereign accelerator program?
When it comes to supporting cyber startups in Australia, the lack of available systems and services is concerning. The landscape is already highly competitive and it takes more than just financial backing to bring a company to fruition.
Something that is often highlighted when talking to my peers, domestically and internationally, is starting a cyber company in Australia is more challenging than it should be.
It is an issue CyRise helped 39 startups overcome.
So, without CyRise and outside of financial investments or incubators, what are the capabilities of the community and the Government to assist new startups in finding their first customers, understanding marketing strategies, and clearing a path for both initial and future success? What is there to help these startups hit the ground running?
Despite the abundance of talk and posturing in Australia regarding support for cyber startups, there is a significant dearth of actual assistance when it is needed the most. The closure of CyRise serves as a disheartening demonstration of this issue. It is particularly frustrating considering the extensive rhetoric coming from politicians and the Government about supporting Australian technology and businesses that are focused on defending against cyber-attacks.
CyRise was a high-performing accelerator that not only aided startups but contributed to the broader cyber security industry.
Consider the 39 companies who went through the CyRise program. These startups actively developed products and services that solve real problems for Australian businesses. Without the support and capabilities provided by CyRise, would these startups, their products or their services be where they are today? And, if not, we must ask ourselves if these businesses’ customers would be left vulnerable, especially in the face of growing cyber threats.
So, what does it mean for Australian businesses and their ability to defend against cybercrime if future startups don't have the support to get their companies, products and services to market?
If the government and politicians are genuinely committed to supporting businesses in the face of rampant cybercrime, investing in innovation and empowering security professionals is a logical step.
What I can be sure of is that I will be watching what the community does next closely and I look forward to seeing what comes of the legacy of CyRise.


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Tencent Holdings Ltd. fixed a flaw in its WeChat instant messaging application that exposed some of the service’s 600 million users to malicious software when downloading the program from Apple Inc., according to a post on its website.
The malware, named XcodeGhost, secretly collects information on devices and uploads the data to servers without users knowing, according to cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks Inc. Apps were infected after software developers used compromised versions of Apple’s developer tool kit, the researcher said in a report posted on its website.
A total of 39 apps using Apple’s iOS software — including WeChat and that from ride-hailing service Didi Kuaidi Joint Co.– were infected, potentially affecting hundreds of millions of users, Palo Alto Networks said. The malware is capable of prompting fake alerts to phish for user credentials, infect other apps using iOS and read users’ passwords.
“We believe XcodeGhost is a very harmful and dangerous malware that has bypassed Apple’s code review and made unprecedented attacks on the iOS ecosystem,” Palo Alto Networks said in the report. “The techniques used in this attack could be adopted by criminal and espionage focused groups to gain access to iOS devices.”
XcodeGhost already has conducted phishing attacks that prompt dialogue boxes asking victims to input passwords to Apple’s iCloud, the report said.
Tencent said the flaw only affected WeChat version 6.2.5 for iOS, and new versions of 6.2.6 or later won’t be affected. Based on a preliminary investigation, the malware hasn’t caused any theft of users’ information from WeChat, Tencent said.
Didi Kuaidi said the malware potentially could transmit the app name, installation time, language and country settings of its Didi Chuxing version 4.0 app, though users’ privacy wasn’t affected. The issue was addressed in updated version 4.1, the company said in an e-mail.
The security breach previously was reported by the Wall Street Journal.


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Coresight Research’s new annual survey explores the further development of the U.S. online grocery market.
This year, for the first time, the survey found that over half (52%) of all respondents had bought groceries online—more than double the shopper numbers from two years ago. Furthermore, 62.5% expect to buy groceries online in the next 12 months, likely supported by demand amid the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.
This year, a total of 63% said they did “almost none” or “a small amount” of their grocery shopping online—down from 72% last year; a total of 14% did “most” or “all or almost all” of their grocery shopping online this year; and the remaining 23% did “some” of their grocery shopping online.
Amazon remains the most-shopped retailer, although the proportion of online grocery shoppers buying on Amazon.com remained flat year-over-year. However, the proportion buying from Walmart jumped by nearly 15 percentage points, to just over half of online grocery shoppers. Shoppers purchased from an average 2.3 retailers online this year vs. 1.8 in 2019.
Respondents also bought an average of five grocery categories online this year vs. 4.4 categories in last year’s survey, reflecting e-commerce’s shift from one-off product purchases to full-basket grocery shops of the kind that are undertaken in supermarkets.
In the past two years, home delivery has steadily crept ahead of collection, as measured by shopper numbers. Delivery now has a clear lead.
Coresight Research also estimates that e-commerce accounted for only around 2.6% of U.S. food and beverage retail sales in 2019. However, online sales are growing fast—by an estimated 22% in 2019—with the market growing by approximately 40% this year, supported by much higher growth during lockdowns. That would equate to almost $38 billion of online food and beverage sales in 2020, or around 3.5% of the total market.


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Reputable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said that iPhone 11 models that Apple will announce tomorrow won’t have Apple Pencil support as previously thought (via 9to5Mac). It may be that Apple keeps the Pencil exclusive to the iPad line.
The feature was thought to be in the works along with reverse wireless charging
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Woman shouts ‘I still love sharks’ as she's taken to hospital after getting bitten while swimming


text: IBM has come up with a cleaner way to reuse scrap silicon leftover from the chipmaking process. Its new method of scrubbing Intellectual Property (IP) off semiconductor wafers allows them to be reused or resold to solar panel manufacturers. For IBM, repurposing scrap silicon decreases the need to buy more new wafers to meet manufacturing needs. Salvaged wafers can be used as "monitor" wafers, or wafers that test semiconductor assembly lines. When those wafers reach end-of-life, they can be sold to the solar cell industry, which must meet a growing demand for silicon to make photovoltaic cells. "One of the challenges facing the solar industry is a severe shortage of silicon, which threatens to stall its rapid growth," Charles Bai, chief financial officer of ReneSola, one of China's fastest growing solar energy companies, said in a statement. "This is why we have turned to reclaimed silicon materials sourced primarily from the semiconductor industry to supply the raw material our company needs to manufacture solar panels." Chipmakers typically have no other choice but to throw the wafers away since they contain intellectual property. To prevent leaking trade secrets, most wafers — about 3 million annually — are crushed and sent to landfills or melted down and resold. IBM expects to save $1.5 million by extending the life of the wafers. Currently in place at its Burlington, V.T. facility, the process will soon be implemented at its East Fishkill, N.Y. fab. "IBM's commitment to environmental conservation spans its business, from the repurposing of materials used in semiconductor manufacturing to enabling customers to manage, measure, and run the most power efficient datacenters on the planet," Mike Cadigan, general manager of IBM Semiconductor Solutions, said in a statement. "The engineering ingenuity that IBM has demonstrated in pioneering the wafer-to-solar panel program has generated countless other conservation initiatives in our manufacturing operations."


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Regardless of where we live or how much money we have in the bank, staying on track to reach our financial goals takes a dedicated commitment. To get a pulse on the current and future financial goals that drive saving and investment strategies around the world, Nielsen conducted a global study of...
From being a symbol of freedom to a way to get from point A to point B, cars capture the heart of millions. In fact, 65 percent of Internet respondents across 60 countries are planning to buy a new or used car in the next two years, according to findings from a recent Nielsen global
Managing money can be difficult no matter where we live, and in many cases, it feels like we spend our cash before we earn it. In fact, Nielsen reports that globally, we save or invest just 10 percent of our monthly income on average. Is that enough? How prepared are we for an unexpected household
Managing money can be difficult no matter where we live, and in many cases, it feels like we spend our cash before we earn it. In fact, Nielsen reports that globally, we save or invest just 10 percent of our monthly income on average. But is that enough?
Consumers are more connected than ever, and it seems like new technology is emerging almost daily. Over the past decade, innovations have changed consumers’ behaviors and, consequently, retailers’ responses to their needs. Dr. Venkatesh Bala, chief economist for The Cambridge Group, a part of...
Earning consumer devotion to a brand or store takes more than just offering a good product. That’s why getting to the heart of what makes a consumer stick or switch can be the difference between flourishing and fading.
Global consumer confidence measured an index level of 94 in Q3 2013, flat from Q2, but sentiment brightened notably in the U.S. and Europe.
Global consumer confidence increased one point to an index of 94 in the second quarter, according to consumer confidence findings from Nielsen. The increase is part of a slow, but steady upward movement in consumer sentiment reported in the first half of the year.
Global consumer confidence increased in the first quarter of 2013, rising two index points to 93 from 91 in Q4 2012, according to findings from the Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions. Improved consumer attitudes about job prospects, personal finances and the...
New findings from the Nielsen Global Survey of Fresh Foods reveal how much fresh foods we consume, where we shop for fresh products and why we shop these preferred retail channels.


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Why One Market is Bouncing Back (Without the Fed’s Help)
While a massive stimulus package is being put into place to help boost the stock market…
One little-known side of the market just bounced back entirely on its own.
We’re talking about an incredible 80% rebound – without any stimulus package or help from the government.
Tom Gentile just shared a new recommendation from this side-shoot market that could be bound for a fast profit.
And in the face of some record-breaking volatility, he’s giving our readers the chance to double, triple, even quadruple their money.


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It is learned from the World Internet of Things Convention that the application process of the 2018 World IoT Ranking List has started a few days ago. The number of enterprises on the Ranking List will be increased to 500, which was 400 last year. Enterprises on the Ranking List will be mainly selected from those who apply for the World IoT excellent enterprises, resorting to recommendation from industrial associations and organizations, self-recommendation and network selection, etc. This ranking involves industries such as industry, agriculture, intelligent manufacturing (including artificial intelligence, industry 4.0), logistics, intelligent transportation (including internet of vehicles), WIT120, environmental protection and energy and smart city, covering solutions and hardware and software products of sensory perceptual system, transmission system, big data, cloud computing, storage system and intelligent terminals, especially IoT enterprises that apply the “six-domain reference model”.
WIOTC set up the World IoT Ranking List Workgroup, so as to ensure the openness and fairness during the process of application and election of excellent enterprises in the 2018 World IoT Ranking List, to highlight the outstanding achievements in the development of the IoT, and to encourage the global IoT enterprises upgraded to IoT. At the same time, the convener and judges’ presidium were set up in various countries and regions of the world. Recommendations and applications from global IoT enterprises, IoT industry organizations and government agencies have started. (This is a public benefit activity; apply for the Rankings is for free. Application form and other files are available at www.wiotc.org).
The excellent enterprises or units in this year’s rankings have the opportunity to become the suppliers or partners of the world IoT products, application standards, hardware, software or solutions. They can also be displayed in the “World IoT Excellent Enterprise Information Base”. The list of pre-selected enterprises that have won the qualification of World IoT Ranking List Top 500 will be publicized in August and solicit for social opinions. The final list will be released before December of this year. Welcome IoT enterprises from all over the world to apply for the world IoT excellent enterprises and compete for the 2018 World IoT Ranking List.
It is known that the 2018 World IoT Ranking List will play an important role in promoting the development of the world IoT, enterprise innovation and upgrade of IoT. Also, as practice of building a community of shared future for mankind, it will help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals of 2030 and usher in the new era of Wisdom Revolution for the advancement of human society into intelligent life, work, and production.
Review the 2017 World IoT Ranking List
Certificate issuing for representatives of enterprises on the 2017 World IoT Ranking List
In order to promote the healthy and sustainable development of the IoT, to encourage the development, innovation and development of IoT enterprise, to demonstrate enterprises and units that have made outstanding contributions to the development of world IoT, WIOTC successfully created the “World IoT Ranking List” in 2017 and released the first “World IoT Ranking List”. The 2017 Ranking List was highly concerned, acknowledged, supported and participated by organizations including United Nations agencies, international organizations and diplomatic envoys, experts and scholars and enterprises from hundreds of countries. Huawei, Bosch, Cisco, SAP, Infineon, CASIC, China Telecom, China Mobile, and other global 400 IoT giants ranked the list, with more than 1,000 outstanding IoT enterprises shortlisted. So far, the World IoT Ranking List has become the most influential rankings, and the largest and most comprehensive rankings of the World IoT.


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The Acura RL is all new for 2005, and it's sleeker, sportier and more fun to drive than last year's...
Acura is recalling 52,615 examples of the TL and TL Type-S, covering model years 2007 to 2008.
Read This Article
Acura shows off its sports cars with the help of mechanical horses.
As oil supplies dwindle, environmental regulations increase, and consumer tastes change, what is the future of the supercar?
Going on sale tomorrow, the 2014 Acura ILX will feature an array of new standard features to help strengthen the brand's gateway vehicle.


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- With sales volumes for the month falling by 1.5%, a shift in spending from December to November - to take advantage of Black Friday offers - is evident;
- The trend towards online spending continues, almost one in every five pounds spent is now done so online;
- With retail sales for Q4, typically the peak Christmas period, being only 0.4% higher than Q3, consumers continue to be mindful of their spending.
In short, with inflation outstripping wage increases, shoppers are increasingly savvy in making what they have stretch further.
By searching and comparing online, consumers know where they can buy what they want cheapest. We also know many prefer to ‘try before they buy’. Some of the better performing businesses over the Christmas 2017 season – Next, Fat Face and Joules – were those offering a multi-channel approach. This approach allowed customers to view goods in-store before buying online and taking advantage of discount offers, whilst also providing the option for customers to return their on-line orders directly to stores.
Although there are signs that wage growth is improving and a view that inflation may have peaked, it’s unlikely the continuing move to online shopping will reverse.
For this reason, those retailers offering a multi-channel experience appear most likely to succeed over the longer term.
Retailers which have recognised (or are moving to address) this will undoubtedly be the most attractive M&A investment opportunities over the coming years.


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In the February edition of East Life magazine, there is an article on local fair trade showing how the east of England is coming together to support Fairtrade Fortnight. The Ipswich Fair Trade Shop features in the article. As the article says, “2017 is the perfect time for us to come together to amplify the voices of marginalised producers by buying Fairtrade”. To read the whole article click the image right.
Is yours a Fair Trade school? Find out how your school can get involved in the fair trade movement. Traidcraft, one of our key suppliers, has produced a magazine promoting fair trade in schools. It is packed with ideas about what kind of activities you can engage in at school to help promote fair trade, and reports on events that other schools have already held. We have copies available in the shop if you or your teachers would like one, or alternatively visit traidcraftschools.co.uk.
The new autumn Traidcraft catalogue is now out. If you want any item from the catalogue that we do not have in stock, we can order it for you. You can get yourself a copy of the new catalogue in store.
For all those interested in genuine, internationally certified and recognised Fairtrade products, please be assured that the Ipswich Fair Trade Shop will continue to support the third world developers by stocking and selling certified products. Our wide range of certified foodstuffs can be inspected at our shop in Upper Brook Street - teas, coffee, chocolate, sugar and much more available in store. Why not visit us to make the purchases that you would previously have made at the supermarket?
The FAIRTRADE Mark on products means that international Fairtrade Standards have been met. Choosing products with this Mark supports marginalised farmers and workers to build a better future for themselves through trade.
For further information visit fairtrade.org.uk or click on the adjacent Mark.
Supermarkets drop Fairtrade
Sainsburys and Tesco have both recently announced that they are dropping the internationally recognised, independent certification scheme Fairtrade in favour of their own internal “fairly traded” scheme. There has been wide criticism in the press for this move which is seen as a self serving measure in pursuit of cost saving and nothing to do with helping third world producers. Major charities - Oxfam, CAFOD, Christian Aid and others - have criticised Sainsburys over this move and there are a number of on-line petitions calling on Sainsburys to stick to Fairtrade. These recent moves follow hot on the heels from Mondelez, Cadbury’s parent company, announcing late last year that it would be abandoning Fairtrade certification in favour of its own internal scheme Cocoa Life.


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SYRACUSE, NY – Preparations are well underway for the 35th running of the Syracuse Motorsports Expo which will be held on March 9th and 10th at the New York State Fairgrounds Center of Progress Building. In an exciting announcement, DOT Foods Inc. has come aboard to be the title sponsor of the 2024 Expo.
“We have come off our best Northeast Racing Products Auction and Trade Show, momentum has been awesome for this year’s Expo and now we bring aboard DOT Foods as our main sponsor, “noted show promoter Jeremie Corcoran, “My phone has been very busy since the turn of the year and with the weather being warm for an Upstate, NY winter, many are already thinking racing. I like to thank Sean Walsh from DOT for his support.”
DOT Foods, Inc. is a major food supplier in both the United States and Canada. In the US alone they have over 40 terminals and 1700 trucks. One of the major terminals is located right in the heart of Upstate/Central NY at Liverpool.
Robert and Dorothy Tracy founded our company in 1960, with big dreams of starting a family business and streamlining the food supply chain. Their business model, the talents of more than 4,000 employees, and the Tracy family’s ownership have helped their company become the largest food industry redistributor in North America. But even more importantly, the dream that took shape all those years ago is still driving our partners’ businesses forward.
The show will greet all types of race fans on Saturday and Sunday, March 9 and 10. Hundreds of cars, dozens of racetracks and sanctioning bodies and so much more will fill the Center of Progress Building from wall to wall.
Show hours will be 10AM – 8PM on March 9th and on March 10th its 10AM – 4PM. Admission is $13 for adults, ages 6-12 is $5 and under 6 FREE. You can also get a two day pass for $20. For more information, please log on to https://syracusemotorsports.com and you can visit our Facebook Page.
The DOT Foods Syracuse Motorsports Expo… It’s the official start to the 2024 racing season in New York!


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The traditional logistics and inventory model behind the exercise equipment supply chain is now doing somersaults in the U.S., a country beset by the coronavirus pandemic.
Eric Goldapske, senior director of operations at Horizon Fitness, said at FreightWaves LIVE @HOME Thursday that exercise equipment suppliers have had to shift from mostly serving public gyms to dealing with homeowners almost overnight as COVID-19-related social distancing measures were put in place.
People have not stopped exercising during the pandemic but instead want the gym experience in their homes. This change in demand has caused Horizon Fitness and its competitors to upend their logistics and inventory management.
“We’re in the process of opening additional warehouses to allow us to have the flexibility to have those products available to the consumer and we’re actually increasing our inventory,” Goldapske said. “The plan longer term is to carry larger amounts of stock for situations just like this.”
Michael Campese, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Estes Forwarding Worldwide (EFW), said his company is responding to these changes among its shippers and their customers during the pandemic.
“It forces us to rationalize our asset network and look at where we have those warehouses,” he said. “We’re getting a lot of pressure from our customers to provide more warehousing capacity.”
Similar changes are being placed on industry resources firms to ensure that they supply their clients with the right processes and people to meet these new logistics and inventory demands.
“We have to improve the way our turnaround deadlines are met and that we’re following the demand of clients,” said Donna Kintop, senior vice president of client experience in North America for DDC FPO, a business process outsourcing firm that works with EFW’s sister company and LTL business unit, Estes Express Lines.
Even after the coronavirus subsides, Horizon Fitness believes, based on its data, that more than 25% of people will continue to work out at home and order more exercise equipment through online channels.
“We’ve seen a 600% increase this year in our business online,” Goldapske said. “We don’t expect that to hit 600% next year, but we certainly don’t expect it to go backwards either.”


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Tourism Regina is hoping both visitors and locals will take advantage of some of the attractions Regina has to offer this summer.
To help celebrate Tourism Week, (May 29-June 4) Tourism Regina is recognizing several initiatives they have undertaken to help everyone find some of unique features the local area is able to offer.
One of the tools created by Tourism Regina is their digital guides. Chief Tourism and Growth Officer with Tourism Regina and Economic Development Regina, Chelsea Galloway says the digital guides provide a helpful service. “It’s a really great resource for people saying that if you want to come to Regina for the weekend or if you’re a local looking for something to do, you just go to Tourismregina.com, you click on our guides features and there are so many different options for many things for people to see and do.”
During the summer months, Tourism Regina is hoping everyone will fill their passports within the local region with the digital attraction pass. Galloway says “You go to a number of different attractions within the city and once you hit all of them you claim a prize.” Some of the locations Galloway mentions are the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, Saskatchewan Science Centre and the Farmer’s Market.
One of the sectors of the local tourism industry that is a big hit with visitors and residents is the several craft breweries that Regina has to offer.
Tourism Regina is teaming up with several breweries to launch the Hop Circuit throughout the summer, giving everyone an incentive to visit the local breweries. Once someone has checked into each location, they can take home a collectible limited-edition glass. The Hop Circuit will wrap up on September 5.
Another initiative launched by Tourism Regina is the YQReady Training program. The tool was created to educate frontline workers within the tourism and hospitality sector in the city of Regina, providing the basics on things to see and do in and around Regina.
Also apart of Tourism Week, a new website was created by Tourism Regina, it can be found at tourismregina.com.


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Both Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S6 have not yet been released by the company, but talks are already high in the market. While Samsung Galaxy S5 is scheduled to be launched in March 2014 only, Galaxy S6 can be expected in early 2015.
If you are wondering what these new Galaxy smartphones are going to look like or with what specifications they will be launched or which one between Galaxy S5 and S6 will come with better features, here is a quick comparison between these two upcoming Samsung Galaxy smartphones.
All previous Galaxy S series smartphones were launched with Android OS. As we see a new upgraded version of Android with each successor of Galaxy S series phones, we may expect Galaxy S6 to come with the latest and the most advanced Android version or Samsung may even launch this Galaxy smartphone with its own OS, Tizen. Samsung Galaxy S5, as featured on some online shopping websites, will be available with Android 4.4.2, which is right now the latest version of Android OS.
Samsung Galaxy S4 featured a 13MP rear camera, which was the best until now as new Samsung Galaxy S5 is available with 16MP rear and 2.1MP front camera. So, what about Galaxy S6? Will Samsung improve the camera quality even more in its Galaxy S6 smartphone? According to rumors and talks, Samsung Galaxy S6 may feature a camera anywhere between 16 and 18 megapixels. Auto focus and LED will be some extra features with this camera.
Design and Display
Samsung Galaxy S4 was introduced with a 5-inch screen and 1080×1920 pixels resolution. Then, Samsung introduced Galaxy S5 with more advanced features to beat its predecessor. Galaxy S5 is introduced with a 5.10-inch display and 1080×1920 pixels resolution, which is definitely better than the S4. What should one expect from Samsung Galaxy S6? If we believe in what rumors says, Galaxy S6 will feature a 5.10-inch HD display and even a waterproof screen protector to improve the value of its display.
Talking about memory, Samsung Galaxy S6 is definitely going to be better than its predecessors. Galaxy S4 featured 16GB of internal storage and 2GB of RAM and its successor, i.e. Galaxy S5 is also being said to have the same memory features. Users will definitely expect Samsung Galaxy S6 to have some better memory specs and if we believe in rumors, the expectations are going to be fulfilled. Galaxy S6 may feature a 4GB RAM and better internal memory.
Apart from above features, Samsung Galaxy S6 may also come with a fingerprint sensor, one which you might have already seen in an Apple iPhone. A 5G enabled network can also be expected to be featured in the next Samsung S series phone. Battery will be better and more powerful, at least 4,000- 5,000mAh.
Samsung is set to launch Galaxy S5 smartphone in the current Mobile World Congress event 2014. If it continues with the same frequency, we might see the next S series smartphone, Samsung Galaxy S6 in early 2015.


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Like most companies, Apple periodically releases software updates for its applications, fixing minor issues. However, an iMovie update released on Tuesday revealed a brand new video format the company has been developing.
Dubbed iFrame, the new video format is based on industry standard technologies like H.264 video and AAC audio. As expected with H.264, iFrame produces much smaller file sizes than traditional video formats, while maintaining its high-quality video. Of course, the smaller file size increases import speed and helps with editing video files.
iMovie 8.0.5 released on Tuesday adds compatibility with camcorders using the iFrame … Read more


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New Delhi: The Union government has allowed the export of 900,000 tonnes of wheat by state-run firms and 650,000 tonnes of wheat products by private trade as monsoon rains revived after a dry spell.
The government rejected demands of an export subsidy, making shipments viable only to neighbouring Bangaldesh, traders said.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade, an arm of the commerce ministry, said late on Friday that export of the grain has been allowed up to March next year through MMTC Ltd, STC Ltd and PEC Ltd.
One trader with an international firm said Indian wheat would cost more than $240 a tonne in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, or $20-$30 more than Black Sea and US wheat.
“The price does not favour exports without subsidy. Export is possible only to neighbouring Bangladesh, not beyond,” said a Mumbai-based trader working with an international company.
An official of the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India said the export of wheat products was viable but the government had to give details of how it would monitor exports.
Analysts said the move had been anticipated by the market as a panel of federal ministers decided early this year to allow exports of two million tonnes of wheat and wheat products.
India has accumulated a huge surplus of wheat after banning exports two years ago. Soaring stocks after a bumper harvest encouraged the government to say earlier this year that exports would eventually be allowed.
Last month, farm secretary T. Nanda Kumar said export curbs could be lifted after evaluating the progress of monsoon rains, which are forecast to be 93% of the long-period average this year.


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ONDC: Online Food Delivery Platform Offers Food Cheaper than Swiggy & Zomato
As Zomato and Swiggy battle it out in the food delivery tech space, a formidable new competitor has emerged in the form of a platform developed by the Indian government.
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), The Indian government’s new online food delivery platform, is competing against Zomato and Swiggy by offering cheaper food delivery.
ONDC plans to reduce the number of intermediaries between restaurants and customers, which could shake up the food delivery industry.
What is ONDC?
ONDC, developed by the Government of India, offers restaurants the ability to sell food items directly to customers.
Additionally provides various other products such as groceries, home decor, and cleaning essentials, among others, on its platform.
ONDC is not a conventional app or service but a government-developed platform aimed at connecting businesses with customers through digitalization.
The platform has partnered with companies such as Paytm, Meesho, Magicpin, Mystore, Craftsvilla, and Spice Money.
Which serve as online storefronts, enabling customers to order food or other products from businesses listed on the ONDC platform.
ONDC was initially launched in Bengaluru in September 2022 but has since expanded to multiple cities.
Although launched in September 2022, the food delivery tech platform, ONDC, is only now gaining traction and becoming more popular among users.
Recent reports indicate that the platform has crossed the 10,000 daily order milestone, with many users sharing comparisons of food delivery prices between ONDC, Swiggy, and Zomato.
As per these screenshots, ONDC is relatively more cost-effective.
ONDC functions by taking a small commission when a customer orders food or any other product through partner apps such as Paytm, after which the order is passed on to the business.
Unlike Swiggy or Zomato, ONDC also shares all customer information with the respective businesses.
Brands and businesses must register on the ONDC platform to make their services visible to customers nationwide.
It’s worth noting that the platform is not solely for food or grocery delivery, and can also be utilized for other services.
Such as e-commerce, thereby posing a potential threat to major players like Flipkart and Amazon.
ONDC Cheaper Online Food Delivery Platform
ONDC stands out for being considerably more affordable than other platforms like Swiggy and Zomato.
For instance, an order worth ₹209 on Swiggy or ₹212 on Zomato may cost only ₹147 on ONDC.
How To Order Food on ONDC?
ONDC is an Online Food Delivery Platform accessible through the UPI platform Paytm, where users can simply type ‘ONDC‘ in the search bar.
To find a diverse range of options, including groceries, cleaning essentials, and food items.
To order food through ONDC, simply search for ‘ONDC Food’ and browse through the available cuisine options.
The platform also displays a list of restaurants, and once the order is placed, the food is delivered to the customer’s doorstep, much like Swiggy or Zomato.
It’s worth noting that ONDC is still a relatively new platform, and not all restaurants have yet signed up to sell food through it.
Paytm currently provides multiple ONDC services, including food, grocery, and home decor.
Unlike other food delivery and e-commerce platforms, ONDC relies on the restaurant to deliver the order.
This may pose challenges, such as the possibility of delayed delivery or difficulty fulfilling multiple orders at once.
However, users have reported that ONDC is often more affordable than competitors like Swiggy and Zomato.
And also, As ONDC is a relatively new Online Food Delivery platform, it’s worth noting that not all restaurants have started selling their food through it yet.


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A group of investors led by Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang has agreed to invest $4.8 million in a Redwood City, Calif., payments network that lets people use retailers' gift cards to buy goods and services from other merchants.
Established late last year, the Openbucks Gift Card Payment Network targets consumers who do not have credit cards or debit cards, or who prefer not to use those cards to make online purchases. Openbucks allows consumers to use cards from participating retailers, including Subway, Sports Authority, Shell Oil, Burger King, CITGO, Circle K and Hess, to buy goods and services from other merchants.
"The Openbucks Gift Card Payment Network taps into a whole new market of consumers that either by choice or due to limited resources may not have been able to previously buy goods online," said Jerry Yang. "Openbucks stands at the forefront of the future of online payments as it provides a simple solution to the 25% of U.S. households and most U.S. teens who have no or very limited access to credit cards along with the many consumers that are leery of providing their financial information online."
Aside from Yang, investors include former Yahoo Chairman and Chief Executive Terry Semel and at least nine venture-capital firms.


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Low-power servers running on Calxeda's 64-bit ARM chip will be available a year from now, Calxeda said.
Dell will give its first public demonstration of a 64-bit ARM server this week, the latest step in an industrywide effort to build servers based on low-power chips like those used in smartphones.
Oracle is exploring silicon photonics, an optical technology drawing widespread interest, as a potential weapon in the battle against data-center power consumption.
It doesn't take much to please Hewlett-Packard's investors these days. HP has confirmed that its revenue will decline slightly next year, but the mention of "pockets of growth" sent hearts aflutter.
A massive data center being built by the National Security Agency in Utah has been plagued by "chronic electrical surges" that have destroyed equipment and delayed its opening for a year, according to a report Monday.
Doing battle in the US$9 billion Unix server market is not for the timid. Designing a competitive microprocessor is a costly business, and with the Unix market seemingly in permanent decline it's easy to see why smaller players might drop out.
IBM is working to develop microservers based on low-power processors but isn't sure yet when the systems will be introduced.
Intel hopes to pump more computing horsepower into servers with new Xeon chips based on the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture, which will also have the ability to dynamically adapt to cloud, database or supercomputing workloads.
Intel's dominance of the chip market is starting to wane as PC shipments slump and smartphone and tablet adoption grows, but the manufacturer will try to prove it can make fast and power-efficient processors for mobile devices at its annual developer...
Intel is taking another run at the market for low-power, high-density servers with its new "Avoton" chip, which was launched Wednesday and will do battle with an expected upcoming wave of ARM-based processors.
Advanced Micro Devices will start shipping its first ARM server chips to manufacturers for testing in the first quarter of 2014, a company executive said on Tuesday.
Following through on a policy change announced in 2012, IBM has started restricting availability of hardware patches to paying customers, spurring at least one advocacy group to accuse the company of anticompetitive practices.
The server business continued to slide in the second quarter with worldwide revenue and unit sales down, IDC said Tuesday.
Intel is expected to announce availability next week of a low-power Atom server chip code-named Avoton, which is likely to appear soon in systems such as Hewlett-Packard's Moonshot.
IBM for the first time revealed details on Monday of its 12-core Power8 chip, which is twice as fast as the Power7 chip used in the Watson supercomputer.
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GGG Evaluation Team
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.


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Deal or no deal, the signs are good
Booker Group’s half-year results yesterday were somewhat overshadowed by two deals — one that did not happen and one that has happened but that could be unwound, depending on how the competition authorities view consolidation of the cash-and-carry sector.
The one that didn’t happen was WaverleyTBS, the drinks wholesaler spun out of Heineken UK in 2010. The struggling group was forced to look for a suitor after a sudden cash crunch over the summer, and Booker is rumoured to have got close to agreeing a deal before walking away.
The recent collapse of Waverley shows just how wafer-thin the margins are in the drinks wholesale business. As a result, Booker will probably still end up with a decent chunk of Waverley’s business, as pubs


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Two sisters are bringing five locations of a new-to-Georgia breakfast chain to metro Atlanta, with the first set to open tomorrow.
Carisse and Ebony Moody will open Famous Toastery at 1120 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. in Suwanee. The breakfast and lunch concept started in 2005 in the sisters' native North Carolina and has locations throughout the southeast and Colorado.
The menu -- which features dishes including stuffed French toast, avocado benedict, a variety of omelets and breakfast sandwiches, as well as lunch items such as wraps, sandwiches, salads and burgers -- will also offer seasonal special dishes specific to the Georgia restaurants including peaches and cream crepes, Smores waffles and lobster mac and cheese.The restaurant will also soon serve alcohol, including custom cocktails.
This is the first foray into the restaurant industry for the Moodys (Carisse has a background in finance and Ebony works as an attorney) and the hope is that the venture will make it possible for them to assist their parents financially.
"They've sacrificed a lot for us to help us achieve our goals," said Carisse, who will run the day-to-day operations of the restaurants. "It's their time to relax, and if we can get them to that point quicker, we're going to do that."
She said they looked at several franchise possibilities, and landed on Famous Toastery because they loved the food and the "family environment," with the 7 a.m.-3 p.m. business hours allowing the staff to have a good work-life balance.
The sisters plan to open four more restaurants north of Atlanta in the next four years, though they're still settling on exact locations. Carisse said Suwanee was a natural fit for their first restaurant because of its similarity to her hometown in North Carolina.
The restaurant will be open from 7 a.m.-3 p.m., seven days a week.
1120 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suwanee. 678-541-5345, famoustoastery.com/


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Facebook ranked second behind Google and YouTube in a list of properties that marketers said they planned to use for digital video advertising.
Almost 8 in 10 Americans aged 12 and older currently use some form of social media, according to the latest annual Infinite Dial report [PDF] from Edison Research and Triton Digital.
This infographic illustrates the complex practice that is keyword research and search engine optimization.
This infographic from Quick Sprout illustrates some of the elements that go into creating create posts for YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+.
TV news and TV debates are still the primary ways in which US internet users research and learn about political candidates prior to elections.
Forecasters predict up to 20 billion IoT devices within a few years. This Internet of Things Landscape infographic makes sense of it all.
Edison Research has released its latest annual Infinite Dial report that surveys the audio consumption habits of Americans 12 years and older. Edison has been conducting this research since 1998.
YouTube, Snapchat and Instagram are considered cool by the largest share of US online teens (12-17) who are monthly users of the platforms.
Scott Galloway, a professor of Marketing and Brand Strategy at the NYU Stern School of Business, discusses The Gang of Four (Google, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon), their victims, and the strategies that led them onto a path to a trillion dollar market cap.
LinkedIn remains the most broadly used social network among the Fortune 500, with 93% of the companies analyzed maintaining an account.


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As if industry operators didn’t have enough to worry about, ExxonMobil dealers were greeted with the news that the Irving, Texas oil giant decided to exit direct-store operations by divesting 825 company-owned and -operated stations as well as 1,400 stations leased to dealers. This decision thrust those dealers into an anxious state of limbo, an industry purgatory, if you will.
In this month’s cover story I was particularly taken aback by the range of emotions marketers displayed. Some were brimming with an excitement they could barely contain over the prospect of doubling, even tripling the size of their business. For others, it was sheer misery. Many operators I spoke to would only do so on the condition it be off the record. That was too bad for me because that’s where the really juicy stuff came out. Some of it was even printable. But the ones who spoke on the record were honest and sincere. Specifically, I’m talking about Levent Sertbas, president of Sertbas Inc. in Paramus, N.J., and Tommy Todisco, president of Todisco Inc. in Boston.
After speaking with these two gentlemen—and never has a word so aptly described two individuals—I came away with a genuine concern for their operations. Like many of our readers, they have poured their heart and soul into their family businesses and now they face an uncertain future that seems to dominate their every waking thought. Why wouldn’t it?
Of course as an outsider (whose father just happened to be a single-store Exxon dealer who would be in the same situation as these two had he not retired, by the way), it’s easy for me to be objective and see the upside in their situation. Things could get better, much better, in fact. Only time will tell. I know this much for sure: If the measure of an operator’s character determines his destiny, I know two marketers who are poised to achieve greatness.
Food for Thought
In this month’s foodservice feature, Associate Editor Shawn Foucher examines the healthy food trend that is rapidly spreading to convenience stores.
"Think about the offering in convenience stores today," said Todd Hale, senior vice president of consumer and shopper insights for The Nielsen Co. "It’s obviously not a place you go to get organics and natural."
Done right, however, such a store could fill a critical gap in the convenience environment. "Moving into health and wellness and areas of sustainability is potentially a smart thing to do," Hale said. "But you have to be careful that you don’t turn off the shoppers that drive most of your sales."
One c-store successfully promoting a healthy and organic lineup is The Green Spot Market and Fuels in Dallas.
Foucher explains that The Green Spot’s packaged foods are absent of unhealthy additives, and even the soft drinks themselves aren’t really soft drinks, but better-for-you alternatives made by Blue Sky, who manufactures sodas free of high-fructose corn syrup, caffeine and additives.
Scanning is a normal part of convenience store operations these days, but one of the messages to come out of the NACSTech show a few months ago was that operators are using that data effectively to market their stores and increase the ticket ring. Associate Editor Howard Riell reports that it’s typically only among the larger chains where hard data analysis is taking place, and those that are doing it are reaping the reward.
Operators sometimes err in thinking that market basket analysis can be their "be all and end all," said John Russo, general manager for RedPrairie Performance Management. "They may have an expectation like, ‘As soon as I know that then that’s half the battle.’ But actually coming up with a promotion that is interesting to that customer is something you have to work on."
One fairly counter-intuitive connection Red Prairie turned up for one client was the fact that coffee was its top-selling beverage when consumers bought pizza at dinnertime. And I thought I was the only one who did that.


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Fraud has been on the rise in recent years, evolving with changing circumstances like the global economy, advances in technology, and changes in regulation.
Businesses who wish to stay competitive – and profitable – need to be aware of the risks they face. From speaking with executives of financial technology companies, some common challenges have become clear – and they mirror the ones I am seeing in the wider identity verification and fraud prevention spaces.
Here are my top 3 business risks to watch out for this year:
- The rise of synthetic ID fraud: The increasing use of synthetic media stands out as a growing concern for the fraud prevention community. Synthetic media fraud will likely continue to rise over the next 12 months as fraudsters see it as an efficient way to facilitate the opening of new fake accounts by taking advantage of generative AI. Deepfakes and synthetic document images can go undetected for longer periods of time, therefore maximising ROI for fraudsters.
Synthetic IDs are a specific type of synthetic media, which is a category that also includes generative AI documents and deep fakes. While synthetic IDs are generally datasets made up of multiple real sets from real people, meaning that they will pass data checking services (as the data is all individually correct) – deep fakes are convincing but fake computer-generated documents. Fraudsters can even use your own face when creating deepfakes to defraud you.
- Increasing regulations mandating zero bias: We’re also seeing regulatory bodies becoming less forgiving, therefore we expect new record-high fines to be issued in 2023 across multiple industries. Historically, the hardest-hit industries have been banking and financial services, but more recently the gambling sector has received record-breaking fines as well.
As a result, regulatory and compliance teams within industries exposed to fraud will likely become even more rigorous in their fraud-prevention practices to prevent their businesses from being hit by eye-watering fines. Furthermore, spend on fraud prevention will increase as fraud teams grow to keep up with sophisticated fraud attacks.
We’re already seeing increasing regulation when it comes to inclusion and fairness in AI. The UK Government Digital Identity and Attributes Trust framework (DIATF) has rules in section 13.3 that require companies to submit annual reports showing how they have prioritised inclusion – and similar initiatives are coming out of the US White House and Australian Government.
As a result of increasing regulation, pursuing Zero Bias AI will be key.
- Competition threatens the viability of business: Within the identity industry, we are likely to see a number of companies fold due to the dramatic increase in competition. We have seen significant numbers of clients moving from legacy providers to fully automated solutions using the latest technologies which are proven to be faster, more accurate, and cost efficient. Issues with lengthy post-sale implementation and poor ongoing customer service have also been driving buyers to look for better options, which will likely shake up the industry further in 2023.
More broadly, many fintechs are laying off staff. The one exception is fraud teams where 9/10 fintechs plan to hire more staff and 68% plan to increase budgets for anti-fraud technology solutions.
If fraud prevention, regulation and compliance teams don’t continuously update and upgrade their views and systems, they risk losing millions in fraudulent transactions and regulator fines. They will need to ensure the solutions they have in place are able to keep up with increasing demand without compromising user experience, and performing at a high level across the board to reduce demands on human teams that might be under-resourced and costly.


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Konstantin has always been at the forefront of the global virtual currency scene since first discovering cryptocurrencies the same year that Satoshi Nakomoto created bitcoin in 2009. Konstantin is the owner of a number of small businesses in trucking and mobile development, and co-founded CoinSpeaker in 2014. He graduated from Belarusian State University in 2009 with a degree in Mathematics and Mechanics. You can contact Konstantin via [email protected]
The first city to host the permanent bitcoin vending machine was chosen to become Johannesburg, a city in South Africa.
The first Bitcoin ATM will apparently appear in Africa this May. The first city to host the permanent bitcoin vending machine was chosen to become Johannesburg, a city in South Africa.
According to ZaBitcoinATM the company ordered a Lamassu machine in February this year, and now it expects to receive the machine in a few days.
ZaBitcoinATM commented a few words on the upcoming launch of the bitcoin vending machine in a Bitcoin Talk forum post, saying:
“We are in discussions with several restaurants/coffee shops and will be coming to a conclusion as to the final location once we have shown the interested parties the device.”
If everything goes as planned, Africa’s first bitcoin ATM will be available to the customers by the end of this month.
Community Feedback Wanted
Johannesburg is a good choice for placing the country’s first bitcoin ATM due to the fact that the city is a current financial center of South Africa, but it won’t be the only unit inthe near future.
The second bitcoin ATM is planned to be installed less than in a month in Cape Town.
Cape Town’s bitcoiners has been invited by ZaBitcoinATM to help choose the right place for the unit via its Twitter account.
The interest of bitcoin is increasing in Africa, more companies are searching for potential application for bitcoin.
In addition, a big number of people see the remittance market as the biggest opportunity in Africa.
Kipochi, co-founder Pelle Braendgaard, during an interview with CoinDesk mentioned why he thinks bitcoin could intrude developing countries. Moreover, such plans of Robocoin as to change their ATM network to a remmitance service worldwide suggests that something similar could be probed in Africa.
Nevertheless, Bitcoin is not the only way for IT professionals in Africa.
Due to the fact that Africa has a rather low smartphone penetration rate, SMS money transfer services are quite popular on practically any feature phone.
Furthermore, firms are expanding not only their operations but also integrating with other money transfer services. 37Coins, a Bitcoin wallet provider has plans to offer bitcoin wallet access via feature phones globally, using its SMS-based wallet.


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Four other cases in Alberta have already been linked to the extensive recall, which now includes more than 1,800 beef products
Here’s how the latest E. coli controversy morphed from a recall into a heated political issue
Minister Gerry Ritz has faced intense criticism from opposition parties about the extensive recall of beef products sparked by an E. coli scare at an XL Foods plant in Alberta
The Conservative government, under fire for its response to a massive beef recall and E. coli scare, is planning to spend tens of millions of dollars less this year on food safety programs
Speaker Andrew Scheer has accepted an opposition call for a special debate tonight in the House of Commons on the massive recall
A news conference about the beef recall was abruptly ended by the agriculture minister's assistant when the head of the CFIA started speaking about the delay
There were 13 reported cases of E. coli in the province last month — up from between zero and four — in the midst of the largest beef recall in Canadian history
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Tuesday expanded what was already the largest beef recall in Canadian history, prompted by an E. coli outbreak at an XL Foods plant in Brooks, Alta.
The updated health hazard alert from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency adds more items to an existing list of more than 1,000 products associated with an E. coli outbreak at an XL Foods plant in Alberta
E.coli was first detected at an XL Foods plant in Brooks, Alta., plant on Sept. 4, but it wasn't until three weeks later that the CFIA suspended the plant's operating licence
Brands like Starbucks, Lego and Nokia are already using anthropological techniques to reach deep into the recesses of consumers' minds to identify sub-conscious drivers of behaviour and latent needs.
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Toshiba will soon split off its four in-house companies into wholly owned subsidiaries, aiming to further enhance collaboration between the split-off entities and maximising the value of each business with the move.
As of 1 July, its industrial ICT solutions company will be merged into Toshiba Solutions Corporation, responsible for construction work related to the ICT solutions business and holds construction business licenses.
“As the succeeding company holds special construction business licenses, this will maintain continuity in business areas that requires such licenses,” it said in a statement.
“The merger will also allow establishment of a business structure that unifies development, manufacturing and sales of ICT solutions that utilise IoT and AI, increase the scale of solutions business for manufacturing, industry, social infrastructure, distribution and finance, government and municipalities, and support further business growth.”
The new company will also focus heavily on digital transformation by expanding business through its Spinex IOT architecture and providing services.
Its storage and electronics devices solutions company will be transferred into its newly established Toshiba Memory Corporation, created on 1 April. As a result of this, Toshiba is working towards the growth of its other electronics devices business.
This includes discrete semiconductors, system LSIs, HDDs and other related products.
In addition, its infrastructure system and solutions company will be absorbed into Toshiba Electric Service Corporation, which is responsible for part of the installation work, electrical construction, maintenance and inspection services in the social infrastructure business and holds business licenses.
“The new company aims to realise continuous growth for the social infrastructure business by positioning it to continue to promote a spiral lifecycle business offering products, systems, and services that improve customer value,” it said in the statement.
As of 1 October, its energy systems and solutions company and the Nuclear Energy Systems and Solutions division will be combined to form a newly established company.
This new company will focus on obtaining special construction business licenses and offer products, systems and services within the energy sector.
As a result of the company splits, the new companies will become independent business entities, which Toshiba said will clarify their responsibilities to the market and customer, ultimately supporting the “maximisation of [its] business value”.
Toshiba added that it expects to establish an “optimised structure” to ensure business continuity, and that all the splits will have no impact on the company’s consolidated financial results.
Other information, such as the representatives leading the succeeding companies, capital stock, and fiscal terms (excluding Toshiba Solutions Corporation which is set for 31 March) are yet to be determined.
Toshiba has been in the spotlight for the sale of its memory chip business, with ARN reporting recently that the company is attracting more bidders made by a joint US and Japan-backed venture, amongst other bids.
The reorganisation of the business units could be a lead-up to the sale, further streamlining its operations and structures in relation to it.
“The company announced its intentions [to split off and regroup the entities] on respect of eliminating risk related to the overseas power business, which has been realised by the commencement of Chapter 11 proceedings that eliminate Westinginghouse from FY2016 consolidated earnings results,” Toshiba said.
After the splits, Toshiba said it will further concentrate on “maximising its value and strengthening its governance system and risk management structures” to match its diverse business environments.